Chapter 5 (1/2)
Chapter 05
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Cheng Jingpo politely declined the invitation for a meal. Towards this, Mu Zibei expressed extreme regret. The little one had wanted to use this opportunity to build a good relations.h.i.+p with his 'Cheng dage' and worm his way into some inside information. Too bad it failed miserably.
On the way home, Mu Zibei sighed ruefully. He wondered why everyone in Doctor Cheng's family was so good looking. Could this be the contribution of a great gene? But at the same time, it also gave rise to a seed of doubt, how could his twin brother be so stupid then? All of this things just simply did not add up.
Bo Ziren was lost in her own quiet world for the entire journey.
”What are you thinking about?” Mu Zibei exclaimed loudly, pulling her out from he musings, ”Looking as if part of your soul has wandered off. Are you still upset with me?”
Casting her eyes downwards, Bo Ziren's gazed at Mu Zibei. But she decided to brush him off in the end.
”Fine, I was wrong. But I've also gained my lesson. When we reached home, you absolutely must not tell Mama about this.”
”What lesson did you gain?” Bo Ziren was confused.
Mu Zibei composed his face. ”I've lost the crucial first impression points. Consequently, Cheng dage might be complaining about me in front of Doctor Cheng.”
Shaking her head Bo Ziren said, ”He wouldn't bother about such trivial matters, especially with a little kid like you.”
”Since he won't bother, then you also shouldn't be angry with me.” Mu Zibei reached out and shook her hand.
Without a doubt, Bo Ziren could not do anything to this cunning and smooth talker of a little brother. Instead, she pretended to swat his hand away indicating that the two of them were of a different border.
Mu Zibei did not give up, he persistently pestered her with sugar-coated words, ”Jiejie, you're the best. When I grow up and have a lot of money, I definitely am going to buy handbags for you.”
Inwardly, Bo Ziren sighed. She silently compromised in her heart.
When they reached home, Liu Xinyu's time and attention was once again monopolized by the twin boys and did not have the time to pay attention to her daughter. Till evening arrived, Uncle Mu came home, and the family had dinner together. Uncle Mu then brought the boys out for a stroll after dinner, only at this time did Liu Xinyu manage to squeeze out some time to chat with her daughter face to face. But the topics were limited to study life.
”You must exert some effort to get to know more female friends, go out some more and have fun. Don't isolate yourself.”
”En,”
”If you have any problems, tell me and your Uncle Mu. No need to act brave and shoulder everything on your own.”
”Okay,”
”Sounds like they've come back. I'll go down and take a look. You, take your time and rest.” Liu Xinyu left her daughter's room and closed the door on her way out.
Bo Ziren sat by the bedside, her fingers adjusted the bedside lamp's brightness to the minimum. Alone in the dimly lit room, she sat cross-legged on the bed in a pensive mood.
When she had apologized to him earlier, he only smiled and said it was not an issue.
Just like that. Nothing more. Not even a cursory 'what a coincidence to run into you here'. Could it be that he was actually really angry inside? Yes ah, without rhyme or reason, he was suddenly 'greeted' by a fierce little kid, and it was related to her. He must have blamed her somehow. However, at the same time, there was also a different kind of feeling, such as, lucky.
She had not expected to meet him today.
She felt she could finally understand the meaning of the words 'finding pleasure in small things'. It was a small matter, but it brought happiness to her akin to spring rain and rainbow in the winter. The encounter had lasted briefly, fleeting yet it remained for long in reminiscing.
At this point of time, from the other side of the door, sounds of joyful laughter of a family of four was reverberating within the surroundings. However, she could not feel any trace of loneliness at all. Perhaps, his smile had a healing effect.
This good mood lasted until the day she finally met him again.
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Cheng Jingpo had always been someone who kept his words. This time around, he arrived earlier compared to Bo Ziren. When she made it to the first floor, she caught sight of him at first glance and instantly noted that he seemed to be in a good mood. But, this week, on the second floor, other than him, there were also two groups of customer present -- on one side was a pair of male and female students, while at the other was a pair a middle-aged married couple. In the small s.p.a.ce they claimed as their own, the two pairs were either whispering softly or reading quietly.
After she sat down, the first thing she did was apologizing.
”I am truly sorry for that day, my little brother hit you with a stone.”
”It's okay, just little kid's pranks.” Listening to his tone of voice, he really did not seem to mind.
She wavered for a moment before added, ”He misunderstood your relation with Doctor Cheng.”
”This wasn't the first time. Doctor Cheng always has a group of admirers, and it is easy to mistake our connection. In fact, as long as they use a little effort, they would notice the similarities between us, and the way we speak are that of a family.”
”Cheng Jingjie,” Bo Ziren tested the name in her tongue, ”both of your names are very nice.”
”Our names were given by our Grandfather from our mother's side.” Giving off this much, he stopped talking about his family matters, and brought up this week's book club exchange topic, ”Have you finished reading the book I lent you?”
Bo Ziren took out a thin book from her school bag, and placed it on top of the table: ”En, I have finished it. I felt it is very useful.”
”Useful?” actually, he had only flipped through the pages casually.
”It allowed me to know many things that I had no knowledge of before. Usually, when people mention India, the first thing at the top of their head is the Taj Mahal, their dances, and songs. Now I know half of the people in Mumbai lives in slums. They boast to have the world's biggest open air laundry, and due to frequent blackouts, every family and shop have their own generator. Their male-female signs in public washrooms are designed as attractive as movie posters. And like us, education is the only way most children have that could change their destinies, but we use one to nine multiplication tables whereas they use one to nineteen multiplication tables. They can get the answer for thirteen multiply by eleven within seconds.”
”Looks like you take reading very seriously.” He concluded. ”This book talks about the everyday things found in India in simple descriptions, complete with their culture. Just as in the past, everyone has their own way of doing things.”
”Did you read this book because it's relevant to philosophy?” she was curious about this.
”There is some relevance. India's culture cannot be separated from philosophy and it's different from our study of the subject here. Over there, the point of view of the majority becomes philosophy. The culture they are brought up in, put great importance to the spiritual world. They stay close to G.o.d, and practices the belief of silence is golden, and also favors meditation which gives birth to many philosophies.”
She listened attentively.
”You are interested?” he inquired.
”Yes.” Actually, the moment before she spoke, interest was nada. She merely wanted to listen to him speak.